November 2004: Time Management
- A State of the Industry Commentary by TDavid of
Script School
My initial response to the opportunity to write this guest editorial: What an honor, Thank you, but unfortunately I'm too busy at the moment.
It quickly occurred to me that by rejecting this offer I'd be providing an example of poor time management. Really, a webmaster who loves writing, not making time to write an editorial for an industry magazine? The reality is that we can always find time to do something that is important, and since life itself is on a clock what is more important than time management?
How many business opportunities do we pass up because we are "too busy?"
On the Script School radio show recently (show #207) we broke down where weekly webmaster time evaporates. There are 168 hours each week and after some obvious necessities in life, like sleeping and eating, where does the rest of the time go? All remaining hours can't be allocated for business because family and personal time is important. For webmasters, it is a constant juggling act allocating the time to blend marketing with daily duties like building sites, adding/editing sponsor ads, search engines, content management - and it isn't just marketing our websites, it is also marketing ourselves. Networking time needs to be on the list as well.
Are you keeping track of where the time is going and doing anything about eliminating and/or reducing wasted time?
I set aside time every business day to scour the Web looking for ideas, scripts, programs, services, etc., to stay on the cutting edge and help save time in some aspect of our businesses. If I don't find something specific that will fit a need and/or save time, then I consider developing it myself. I look for products like Skype -- the popular VoIP application for free PC to PC calling. Phone remains for me an essential business tool because despite being a relatively speedy typist, I can talk much faster. For a quick note to a contact, IM or e-mail is good, but for any extended conversation it almost has to go to phone, or time is used that could have been spent more productively. Switching to phone from at least some long back-and-forth ICQ, IRC and/or e-mail conversations could be a welcomed timesaver.
Change is scary to many people. In my experience, change is the only real constant in business, so it seems logical to discover ways to actually benefit from changes. This is one reason why I spend a small part of each business day's time focused on change, and it helps to reduce the surprise factor. In business I've learned that the surprise factor can decimate profits. Too much poorly allocated time and resources can increase the surprise factor...
So make and/or revise a plan, budget time, and maybe someday you'll be asked to provide an editorial to Klixxx Magazine, and you can respond in a timely manner with: Yes, absolutely I am honored, thank you! Ironically, my biggest challenge with this editorial wasn't finding the time to write this, it was finding the time to edit this so it fit in the space.
We're all busy, it's not about the importance -- self-perceived or real -- of our individual schedules, it's about repeatedly making the time to do the things to increase your chances of success in business.
Happy coding to you!
TDavid
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